Clemens done? Not yet

Just when you start to think you’re seeing the final innings of Roger Clemens’ career, he storms back to finish strong and keep his team in the game…again.

Clemens’ three walks in the first inning and his lack of accuracy and control throughout Friday’s game would have been reason to pull a younger, more inexperienced pitcher. But his gamesmanship and competitive spirit kept coming to the top. When he left after the fifth, the Astros were in position to win.

Is he at the end of his career? Possibly. His legs are giving out and, like Nolan Ryan, that’s where the strength comes from. Remember, it wasn’t Ryan’s arm, shoulder or elbow that ended his career. His legs simply gave out.

Yes, Larry Poncino had an incredbly tight strike zone, especially for a pitcher like Clemens who pitches down in the zone. There were several pitches in the first inning that could have easily been called strikes, which would have kept the Phillies off the board.

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Chris Burke needs to play. Get him in the game at short, second, right, just get him in the game. If the Astros re-sign Biggio and then enter the free agent market with a player like Carlos Lee or trade for Miguel Tejada, Burke could be the odd man out and not even see as many at bats next year as he has seen this year.

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Anyone other than me wonder why Humberto Quintero pinch hit in the ninth rather than Eric Bruntlett? Not that it matters tremendously, just wondering.

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If the Astros are out of the race by Tuesday, I wonder if they’ll even chance pitching Andy Pettitte or simply shut him down for the rest of the season. Chris Sampson has earned a shot at a start or two down the stretch.